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G EAS MAN 2,559,916

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 Patented July 10, 1951
2,559,916

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE

2,559,916
OFFERENTA,
Wernon E. Gleasman, Elmira, N.Y.
Application August 29, 1949, Serial No. 12,945
9 Claims. (C1.74-715)
1. 2
This invention is a novel improvement in dif provided with an internai annular flange 3a, being
ferentials for heavy duty trucks, or the like, emi interposed between the flange b and the annular
bodying the worm gear principle; and the prin portion 2b and being secured thereto by bolts 4a:
cipal object thereof is to provide a simple, novel or the like So as to bind the carriers and 2 and
and efficient differential embodying a replaceable the spur gear 3 together as a concentric unit.
cartridge unit in the gear carrier in which the The gear carriers and 2 are preferably driven
Worm or like gears are incorporated, so arranged in the conventional manner by a gear 4 (Fig. 1)
as to provide a very compact and rugged unit on a shaft 5 carrying a bevel gear 6 which meshes
Which may be readily assembled and disas with a bevel drive pinion 7, the drive for the spur
Sembled, and which will permit utilizing a ring 0 gear being purely conventional and forming no
gear and ring carrier of ordinary size, the dif part of my present invention.
ferential being particularly characterized by sin As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the internal annular
plicity of machining of the various interfitting flange 3a is provided with opposed aligned pairs
parts, of cuts 3b at each side of the axial Sections A and
Another object is to provide a differential of 5 B, the cuts at each Side being in alignment with
the above type which may be used between sets Segmental lugs d formed on the gear carrier ,
of axles as a positive equalizer. the inner faces of which are in alignment with
A further object of the invention is to provide the cuts 3b so as to form therebetween a cham
an equalizer unit which may be utilized with tan ber having parallel sides to receive the cartridge
den drive axles, the Saline embodying the car 20 unit hereinafter described.
tridge unit. Between the parallel sides, above referred to,
Other minor objects of the invention will be are piloting lugs 8 (Figs. 2 and 3) which center
hereinafter set forth. the Spur gear 3 in the opposite plane from the
I Will explain the invention with reference to lugs d, the arcuate portions of the lugS 8 being
the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one 25 formed on the same radius as the arcuate por
practical embodiment thereof, to enable others tions of the lugs id. The lugs Ad project into
familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; the hollow of the other carrier 2 and add to the
and Will Sunnmarize in the claims the novel fea support thereof. By reason of the lugs d and
tures of construction and novel combinations of 8, the members of the housing , 2 and 3 are
parts, for Which protection is desired. 30 maintained in concentric relation.
In Said drawings: The cartridge unit, as shown more particularly
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in Fig. 3, comprises parallel side plates and
on line -, Fig. 3, showing the differential con having pairs of bores Oa and fla in their ends
Structed according to my invention, and indi adapted to receive the journals of Worms f2, 3,
cating in dotted lines a conventional drive. f4 and 5, respectively, which Worms are pro
Fig. 2 is a vertical Section through the differen vided with gears 2d, 3d, 4d, and 5d. (Fig. 3)
tial on the line 2-2, Fig. 3. on their respective ends, So that the Worms 2
Fig. 3 is an end view of the differential, with and 3 may be held in a Substantially nonrotat
one cover plate removed. able position, and the Worms 4 and 5 are simi
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through an 40 larly held.
equalizer unit utilized where tandem drive axles Within the chamber formed between the car
are used. riers and 2 is a worm wheel 28 which is keyed
Fig. 5 is a longitudiinal Section taken on line on the axle Section A, the axle Section B carry
5-5, Fig. 4. ing a worn wheel 2, the wheels 20-2 rotat
AS shown in FigS. 1 to 3, the differential con 45 ing in recesses Bac and lac respectively, provided
prises a pair of gear carriers and 2 which are in the side plates and , so as to permit the
disposed opposite each other, each having tubular use of Worm wheels 20 and 2 of maximum di
hub extensions a and 2a, which receive the ends ameter without weakening the side plates 6 and
of the axle Sections A and B, the latter being f. The Worm wheel 2) is in constaint nesh with
disposed in axial alignment in the usual manner, 50 the worms 3 and 5, while the worm wheel 2
the extensions fa-2a. Serving as bearing Sup is in constant mesh with the Worms 2 and 4.
ports for the entire assembly in the usual manner. The helical angle of the Worms is such that
Gear carrier is provided with an annular it prevents one wheel or the other from Spinning,
flange ib which is disposed opposite an annular due to loss of traction, while having the ability to
portion 2b of the carrier 2, an annular spur gear 3 55 follow when the road surface controls the differ
 2,559,916
3 4
ence in axle Speed, such as in rounding a curve or
any irregular terrain.
By the above construction, the provision of
the cut-out portions 3b in the web 3c of the gear
3 provides a very solid construction in that the
corners of the cartridge unit directly bear against
the cut-out portions 3b so that, if desired, the
l'ing gear inay directly drive the cartridge unit,
thus relieving the stress from the bolts sac. While
I have shown the ring gear mounted between 0.
the gear carriers and 2 it is obvious that it
may be mounted on either One of the carriers
and 2.
When utilizing tandem axles in which both
axles are driven, the shaft 3i (FigS. 4 and 5)
passes thirough a bore in pinion gear (Fig. 1),
the shaft 38 passing on to the rear tanden axle
in the conventional manner.
in this modification (FigS. 4 and 5) the Spider
gear carrier 32 is nounted in a housing 33 which 20
is fixedly secured to the conventional differential
34 in any desired manner, such as by Screws
35 or the like. The outer end of the housing is
closed by plate 35 having a tubular extension
3 through which passes a stub shaft, 38 to re
ceive a universal joint 39, in the conventional
manner, the shaft 38 being preferabiy journaled
in anti-friction bearings is, and shaft, 38 being
in axial alignment With the shaft 3i. Stuib shaft,
38 directly carries within the housing 33 tine
Spider gear carrier 32 for rotation therein, and
the Spider gear carrier 32 is provided with dia
metrically opposed segmental lugs 32a (Fig. 5)
Which Support the worn Spider gear cartridge
unit hereinafter described, said lugs 32d forming
a Substantially rectangular chamber receiving the
cartridge unit, which cartridge unit is main
tained between the lugs 32d by a plate 4, pro
vided with Segimental keys 42, wihich pilots the
cartridge unit. Within the gear carrier 32 in the
direction opposite from the lugs 32d.
In this inodification, the cartridge unit is
similar to that described in the previous nodi
fication, the Sailine coin prising side plates and
Which have bores receiving the ends of the
Worm gears 2, 3, 4 and 5 which are sub
stantially identical with those shown in the pre
vious modification, the gears 2 and i? meshing
With a Worli. Wheel 5 mounted on the rear axe
tandem shaft 3, while the worms 3 and fs
constantly nesh with a worn wheel 5 which
is keyed or otherwise Secured to the piaich i of
the forward tandem axle.
By the above construction, the worm wheel 5
is constantly rotated by the prime in over of the
vehicle, whiie the worn wheel 5 is carried by
the shaft 3i and is also rotated continuously
by the prine mover or shaft 33.
The helical ange of the Worms is Such that
it prevents one tanden axle or the otheir froin.
Spinning, due to loss of traction, while having
the ability to follow when the road Surface con
trols difference in Speed of the pinion and
Shaft 3 in accordaince With the Surface Of the
terrain on Which the vehicle is traveling.
I do not init Iny invention to the exact foiliis
shown in the dra WingS, for obviously charges
may be made therein within the scope of the
claims.
I claim:
1. A differential for connecting aligned axe
Sections or the like, comprising a gear carriei';
aligned axle Sections entering Said gear carrier;
means for rotating Said carrier; Spaced parallel
worm wheels within the carrier mounted on the:
respective axle Sections; and a removable car
tridge unit within the carrier rotatable there
With, Said unit comprising a pair of Substantially
parallel plates; Said gear carrier comprising
housing sections having recesses in their opposed
faces, each recess having aligned cut-out portions
receiving the ends of the substantially parallel
plates of the cartridge unit, and one section of
the housing having segimental lugs aligned with
the cut-out portions abutting the Substantially
pai?aliel plates intermediate their ends, the cut
Outs and lugs forming a chamber having Sub
stantially parallel sides to receive the cartridge
unit, therein.
15 2. In a differential as set forth in claim 1,
means for supporting the ends of the segmental
lugs to prevent separation thereof.
3. A differential for connecting aligned axle
Sections or the like, comprising a gear carrier;
aligned axle Sections entering said gear carrier;
means for rotating said carrier; Spaced parallel
Worm wheels within the carrier mounted on the
respective axle Sections; and a removable car
tridge unit within the carrier rotatable there
with, said unit comprising a pair of substantially
parallel plates; said gear carrier Comprising
housing sections having recesses in their opposed
faces, each recess having aligned cut-out por
tions receiving the ends cf the Substantially
30. parallel plates of the cartridge unit, and one Sec
tion of the housing having segmental lugs aligned
with the cut-out portions abutting the substan
tially parallel plates intermediate their ends, the
cut-outs and lugs forming a chamber having Sub
stantially parallel sides to receive the cartridge
unit therein, and said Sections having piloting
lugs disposed approximately 90° from the Seg
mental lugs for maintaining the housing sections
in concentric relation.
4) 4. A differential for connecting aligned axle
sections or the like, comprising a gear carrier;
aligned axle sections entering said gear carrier;
means for rotating Said carrier; Spaced parallel
Worm wheels within the carrier mounted on the
respective axle sections; and a removable car
tridge unit within the carrier rotatable thereWith,
said unit comprising a pair of Substantially
parallel plates; Said gear carrier having dia
metrically opposed lugs receiving the Substan
tially parallel plates of the cartridge unit, Said
lugs forming a substantially rectangular chan
ber therefor; and a plate Secured to the outer
ends of the lugs for piloting the cartridge unit
therein, said plate having segmental keys engag
ing the outer faces of the parallel plates.
5. A differential for connecting aiigned axle
sections or the like, comprising a gear carrier;
aligned axle sections entering Said gear carrier;
means for rotating Said carrier; spaced parallel
Worm wheels within the carrier mounted on the
respective axle Sections; a renovable cartridge
unit within the carrier rotatable therewith, said
unit comprising a pair of Substantially parallel
plates, pairs of worms having their ends jour
naled in the pairs of plates, Said Worms meshing
with the respective worm wheels at diametrically
opposite sides thereof, and meshing Spur gears
connecting the Worms, whereby the load. On the
axle sections will be constantly equalized by the
spur gears rotating in opposite directions, the
helical angle of the worms preventing either axle
sectioia from spinning with respect to the other
due to loss of traction; and said means for rotat
ing the carrier comprising a housing forning
 2,559,916
5 6
part of the gear carrier, and a driving gear
mounted on the housing.
6. In a differential as set forth in claim 5, said
housing being sectional and having opposed re
cesses in its opposed faces, each receSS having
aligned cut-out portions receiving the ends of
the parallel plates of the cartridge unit, and One
section of the housing having Segmental lugs
aligned with the cut-out portions thereof abut
ting the parallel plates intermediate their ends,
the cut-outs and lugs forming a chamber having
parallel sides to receive the cartridge unit there
7. In a differential as set forth in claim 5, said
housing being sectional and having opposed re
cesses in its opposed faces, each receSS having
aligned cut-out portions receiving the ends of the
parallel plates of the cartridge unit, and One Sec
tion of the housing having segmental lugs aligned
with the cut-out portions abutting the parallel
plates intermediate their ends, the cut-OutS and
lugs forming a chamber having parallel sides to
receive the cartridge unit therein; and Said Sec
tions having piloting lugs disposed 90° from the
segmental lugs for maintaining the housing Sec- :2 5
tions in concentric relation.
8. A differential for connecting aligned axle
sections or the like, comprising a gear carrier;
aligned axle sections entering said gear carrier;
means for rotating said carrier; Spaced parallel
worm wheels within the carrier mounted on the
respective axle sections; a removable cartridge
unit within the carrier rotatable thereWith, Said
unit comprising a pair of substantially parallel
plates, pairs of worms having their ends jour
naled in the pairs of plates, said worms meshing
with the respective worm wheels at diametrically
Opposite sides thereof, and meshing Spur gears
connecting the worms, whereby the load on the
5 axle sections will be constantly equalized by the
Spur gears rotating in opposite directions, the
helical angle of the worms preventing either
axle Section from spinning with respect to the
other due to loss of traction; a housing enclosing
the gear carrier; and said means for rotating the
carrier comprising a shaft Secured to the carrier
and entering one end of the housing, a driven
gear on Said shaft; and said worm wheels being
mounted on coaxial shafts entering the opposite
end of the housing.
9. In a differential as set forth in claim 8, said
gear carrier having diametrically opposed lugs
receiving the side plates of the cartridge unit,
Said lugs forming a Substantially rectangular
chamber therefor; and a plate Secured to the
outer ends of the lugs for piloting the cartridge
unit therein, said plate having segmental keys
engaging the outer faces of the parallel plates.
VERNON E. GLEASMAN.
REFERENCES CITED
The following references are of record in the
file of this patent:
30
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number Name Date
1,354,937 Alcorn ------------ Oct. 5, 1920
1402,301 Leipert ------------ Jan. 3, 1922
35 1,404,791 Nogrady ------------ Jan. 31, 1922